Creating a do-not-draft list for wide receivers is a tricky exercise. As the NFL continues to evolve into a passing league, the position is littered with pass catchers who could be legitimate starting options on any given week. Fantasy football is already a fairly random game, and the wide receiver position is increasingly susceptible to random breakout performances.

But like every other position, there are a handful of players that I have identified as guys to stay away from in my drafts this summer. Here is my list of receivers to avoid in your drafts this summer.

Non-draft list: wide receivers

Mike Evans (WR-TB)

Mike Evans is a Hall of Famer. Let me make that clear. He was one of my favorite discount players to draft last season and paid off handsomely, finishing as WR4.

But now it’s time to jump off the Evans bandwagon. He’s ranked WR14 by our Expert Consensus Rankings and is drafted in the top 30 on our ADP Consensus. A year ago, Evans was just inside the top 80 players. Aside from a new offensive coordinator, Evans’ situation is relatively the same. I could justify taking Evans a few rounds later, but that price is too high, especially when you factor in potential regression.

Evans caught a whopping 13 touchdowns on just 79 receptions a year ago. While I understand that touchdown scoring is definitely his thing, he is due for some regression in that area. For comparison, his running mate Chris Godwin caught just two touchdowns on 83 receptions and could play more exclusively out of the slot in 2024.

Evans is simply being drafted at his absolute peak and those are the types of players I generally avoid in my drafts. I would much rather take Godwin 30 picks later.

Calvin Ridley (WR – TIEN)

After a long-awaited return, Ridley was… an enigma. He caught 76 passes for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns on the year, finishing as the WR17. He had a few elite weeks, but anyone who had Ridley on their roster knows that the week-to-week ride was littered with failures. The Jaguars didn’t invest much in signing Ridley, but it was revealing to see the Jaguars let him go after acquiring him from Atlanta and then patiently waiting for his suspension to end.

Now Ridley heads to Tennessee, where the offensive situation is more unpredictable. I’m not as thrilled about Ridley coming to Tennessee as some. He’ll now have to compete with DeAndre Hopkins for targets. I’m not convinced Will Levis is a quarterback capable of supporting one top-24 wide receiver, let alone two. We also don’t know what to expect from first-year head coach Brian Callahan, who comes over from Cincinnati.

I don’t even think Ridley being ranked ECR WR34 is that bad. I think the risk involved with him is there, while there is room for improvement. There are other guys I’d rather take my chances on in that range, like Godwin, Hopkins, Christian Watson, and Diontae Johnson.

Jordan Addison (WR – MIN)

Addison would be on my list even before he was arrested on suspicion of DUI, his second DUI-related arrest in the NFL. The league could certainly impose some discipline that would make Addison even less attractive in fantasy leagues.

On the field, I liked what I saw from Addison. He stepped up in Justin Jefferson’s absence and finished the year with 70 receptions for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns. Addison’s touchdowns could start to decline, especially now that Jefferson is healthy for the entire season. While the likely absence of TJ Hockenson for at least part of the season could help Addison’s perceived chances, I have serious concerns about who’s throwing him the ball.

I’m skeptical that rookie JJ McCarthy or Sam Darnold can support two viable fantasy threats. Addison also caught just 32 passes for 574 yards and six touchdowns in the 10 games he and Jefferson played in. With potentially less volume, less reliable play in the middle, and a possible suspension, Addison is a guy I avoid even at his reasonable price.

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